It is true that Chet's refusal for "peaching" was mainly due to the fact that he felt the punishment inflicted on himself to be unjust, and so he would not aid the school authorities, but in spite of that he had taken a step forward. And, while he did not become popular during his stay at Riverview, and while he did much to annoy our heroes, he was considerably improved.
Meanwhile football practice went on. Gradually the raw material was being developed into shape, and finally Professor Hardin, one of the younger members of the faculty, came out one day to watch the lads kicking the ball about. At the close of practice he called Andy and Frank Racer aside.
"If you would like me to, I will coach you boys," he said. "I used to play on the Yale team." His tone was modest.
"Are you that Hardin?" cried Frank. "Coach us? Say, it would be the best thing in the world for us! Maybe we can get up a 'varsity team after all."
"There is no doubt of it," replied Mr. Hardin. "You have some good material in the two scrub elevens."
Thus it came about that a 'varsity team was formed. It was no easy work picking the eleven and their substitutes, for there were some jealousies, but finally eleven lads were named and it was admitted that they were the pick of the school. Jack Sanderson was named as captain, Andy had the position at quarterback, which he had longed for, and Frank was right halfback.
"Now if the grounds were only in decent shape, maybe we could get a game with Waterside or Milton," said Andy one day.
"The only way to get the gridiron in shape is to do it yourselves," said Mr. Hardin. "It will be good training for you boys. I think we can find some shovels, picks and wheelbarrows. We can't do much with the grandstands except to make them safe, but that's something. What do you think about it?"
"We'll do it!" cried Frank; and then he and his brother broached the subject to their fellows. The result was that in the next week the gridiron took on a much different appearance. The weeds disappeared; the humps of dirt were leveled off, and the leaning fences straightened. New goal posts were secured, and the grandstands made tolerably secure in case of a crowd.
"Now what we want is some games with good schools!" said Jack Sanderson one day, following a hard struggle between the 'varsity and scrub.